Published: June 11, 2009 05:30 pm      

Stay the course — 06/12/09

Boyd schools have improved under leadership of Osborne

Howard K. Osborne’s future as superintendent of the Boyd County School District could be decided by an as yet-to-be appointed member of the Boyd school board. We find that unbelievable. From our vantage point, Osborne has done an excellent job during his four years at head of the county school district and his contract — which expires at the end of June — should be extended.

Apparently, not all of the four remaining members of the school board agree with our assessment of Osborne. According to board members Randall Stapleton, chairman Bob Green and he are in favor of offering Osborne a new contract, but board members Theresa Jackson and Teresa Cornette are not.

Cornette declined to tell a reporter her position on Osborne’s future in the district, while Jackson says she has yet to make up her mind and wants to wait until the board is back to five members before making a decision.

“Some things could happen to change our minds,” Jackson said, without saying what those things are.

Board member Phillip Pruitt resigned in April because his job with county government barred him from serving on the school board.

The Kentucky commissioner of education will fill the vacancy created by Pruitt’s resignation from a list of three applicants who live within Pruitt’s district. While the state school board currently is in the process of conducting a nationwide search for a new commissioner of education, Elaine Farris is serving as interim commissioner and has the power to fill vacancies on school boards. By law, current school board members and employees of the Boyd County School District have no role in filling the vacancy.

With the Boyd board deadlocked on Osborne continuing as superintendent, then the first vote the new board member casts is a critical one. Never has the filling of a school board vacancy been so important.

Frankly, we wish Jackson and Cornette — both of whom areactive and competent school board members — would publicly express their problems with Osborne. During his four years as superintendent, Boyd County’s academic achievements have risen steadily and quite impressively. The district has met the goals established by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Osborne has steered the district past the controversy over the formation of a now defunct Gay-Straight Alliance at Boyd County High and the resulting court-mandated sensitivity training. Despite all the negative, statewide publicity created by that controversy, the school district in many ways is better from having gone through it. We often learn from adversity

The school district is expected to break ground on a new high school that may cost in excess of $30 million. The immense size of this project alone makes it a bad time to be switching superintendents.

While we are certain many of the most ardent fans of the Boyd County Lions wish they had won more football and basketball games in recent seasons, but you can hardly blame the superintendent for that. Besides, in the long run, success in academics is far more important than success in athletics.

A letter signed by 20 Boyd County teachers that was published on this page Thursday praised Osborne for his visibility. He visits each school weekly, if not more often, and personally greets the students and teachers. He’s an encourager.

Without commenting on the controversy involving his position, Osborne has only said he wants to continue as superintendent.

He should be given that opportunity. Before the next scheduled school board meeting on June 22, we hope a new board member will have been appointed and the board will vote to award Osborne with a new contract. And our hope is that the vote on the new contract is 5-0, instead of 3-2.